In March, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced a new interim policy designed to combat the opioid epidemic. The ADA's interim policy supports mandatory continuing education for dentists about prescribing opioids and other controlled substances. It also supports limits on opioid dosage and duration of no more than seven days for the treatment of acute pain, and the utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs.

According to the ADA, the interim policy was adopted to guide the organization's advocacy efforts centered on the role of dental professionals in preventing opioid abuse. Click here to see the ADA's collected policies and recommendations on substance use disorders, including the new Interim Board Policy on Opioid Prescribing. For more information about prescription opioid abuse, visit the ADA's website.